About Us

From tourism and education specialists to logistics, and destination experts, our knowledgeable and dedicated staff aim to deliver outstanding service and excellent customer experiences.

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Our Management team is supported by an advisory board, whom where industry experts, leaders, and community members reside.

Joel Thompson

Managing Director

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Joel is passionate about youth leadership and development through outdoor education, community service and travel experiences.

Born in New Zealand, one of the worlds most pristine natural environments, Joel now calls Melbourne home.

With over 9 years’ experience in nature based tourism, outdoor education, and community development, Joel is the founder and the head of the School Camps Australia Group, responsible for companies such as OutBeyond. Through this line of work, Joel has been directly responsible for more than 15,000+ students and their experiences on school camps, study tours and international travel and exchange programs.

Joel has held positions responsible for the safe delivery, risk management and compliance policies for over 60 Australian schools attending outdoor education programs. A key leader in the Australian camping and outdoor recreation community, as a National Peak body board director of the Australian Camps Association (ACA).

Joel regularly advises organisations within the International Education and Tourism sectors, both in Australia and abroad.

An advocate for child safety, wellbeing and youth leadership, Joel also sits on the safety sub-committee of the SCA group. Safety is not a checklist, safety is a culture, and through rigorous interdisciplinary training of personnel, we are able to improve that culture.

OutBeyond programs have been designed with safety at the forefront, and student experience at the centre of everything that we do. Joel provides students and staff from all around the world with the opportunity to learn, grow and develop as global citizens, beyond the walls of the classroom.

Michael Mumford

Operations Manager

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Michael completed his secondary and tertiary education in Melbourne, Australia with a heavy focus on Outdoor Education, Sustainability Tourism and Hospitality.

Completing a Diploma of Ecotourism has given Michael a good grounding in sustainable practice and this is something he is proud to build into the OutBeyond Programs. His education in the outdoors begun from a young age with his family and friends and this was the beginning of his Experiential Learning journey.

Working with groups of international and local students for the last 6 years, he relishes the opportunity and challenge of introducing Australian Outdoor Education principles to an International audience. Working to deliver camps to thousands of students in the last 6 years has given him a great perspective on how all students learn and engage in different ways.

Ben Deery

School Support Manager

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Ben, like many other Australian’s, has been extremely fortunate to attend numerous youth camps as a child through the Australian education system.

Growing up in Melbourne, Ben attended two very prestigious schools on the Mornington Peninsula, gaining enough experience and skills through their cross-curricular educational approach to then lead camps at the young age of 16. At that age, Ben knew that leadership was a natural skill of his. By growing his knowledge in the area of youth development through working in child care and camp education, Ben was able to assist students to gain additional skills and knowledge that complements academic education and set’s young people up with important life skills to take on the world.

Growing up with a father working in corporate safety Ben began to recognise and manage risk from a very young age, naturally continuing to ensure the safety of students, teachers and colleagues. Ben’s love of Australia and culture has seen him live in two major cities of Australia as well as regional Queensland and Victoria.

Nothing pleases Ben more than being able to show International visitors this beautiful country.

Liam Murphy

People, Culture and Education Manager

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Liam completed his High School Education and has since gone on to become a qualified Australian school teacher through his graduate studies in Melbourne, Victoria.

He has a Bachelor of Exercise and Health Science with a major in Outdoor Recreation and a Postgraduate Diploma of Education.

Liam has over 4 years of professional experience in facilitating and teaching students in the outdoors. With a love for the ocean, his personal interests revolve around an active lifestyle by the beach, surfing and swimming as much as he can.

Tim Daff

Marketing and Communications Manager

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Tim studied Graphic Design for print in the mid 2000's and following his course, leapt into the world of digital media. Tim has over 10 years experience in design, development and marketing of websites, digital business systems and traditional media.

The outdoors, and in particular the Ocean, is where Tim spends the majority of his free time. A big AFL fan, he also plays football himself. Tim is a keen fisherman, diver, kiteboarder, surfer and basically anything in or near the ocean.

YuKan Cheng

Personal assistant

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YuKan, can speak 3 different languages, English, Cantonese, Mandarin. She has completed her Accounting and Finance degree in Hong Kong, but was in love with outdoor since she joined the Boy Scout Association when she was 12 years old.

YuKan applies her outdoor experience into education and facilitation. She became an outdoor facilitator right away after she graduated, working with international students from all over the world for the past 4 years in different countries through Asia and Australia.

YuKan believes experiential learning is good for students not only academically, but also for their personal development. Through her love of travel, YuKan has visited 13 provinces in China and 18 countries in the world. She loves doing solo trip with her big backpack. and meeting the locals. Travelling has opened her eyes, making her be more accepting and patient.

Dana Wu

Communications Assistant

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Dana joined OutBeyond through her desire to try something new, challenge herself and most of all build confidence in an international organisation.

Whilst completing her Master degree in Global Media and communication at Melbourne University, Dana joined an OutBeyond program as a student volunteer. Here Dana witnessed the totally different education model between China and Australia and the magic power of outdoor education in developing children’s character.

Before coming to Australia, Dana had several working experiences in different media sectors, including Chinese Top 1 TV Broadcasting System, a China Central TV Television（CCTV) documentary director's studio, and an advertising company. Dana is in love with communicating with audiences through the power of word and graphic. Now Dana has chosen the Outdoor Education as a new fresh start.

Some of OutBeyond's Accreditations

Australian Camps Association

OutBeyond is a member of the Australian Camps Association, the peak body for residential camps and activity providers in Australia.

International Duke of Edinburgh Award

OutBeyond is a recognised Duke of Ed Employer and a Licensed Operator of providing Duke of Edinburgh programs to schools and individual students.

Licensed Tour Operator

OutBeyond is licensed tour operator with Parks Victoria. As the State wide peak body for our National Parks, Parks Victoria govern all National Parks and as an operator in these parks where must adhere to strict rules and regulations set by Parks Victoria.

Leave no Trace

We are committed to protecting the outdoors by teaching and inspiring people to enjoy it responsibly. We are endorsed by LNT to provide education programs on the environment and outdoor ethics.

International Camping Fellowship

OutBeyond is a member of the International Camping Fellowship (ICF) as a key contributor to camping and camp programs on an international level.

Parks Victoria

OutBeyond is an accredited provider of nature based education programs and outdoor education programs with Parks Victoria,

Australian Education Future Unlimited License

OutBeyond has been identified and endorsed as an influential provider of International Education products and services to schools, universities and training colleges.

Australian Tourism Accreditation Program

OutBeyond is an accredited under the ATAP quality assurance accreditation program

To request a full disclosure of OutBeyond certification and accreditation information, please send us an information request.

More than just a tour!

Make new friends with Australian and New Zealand families and experience unique cultural immersion at its finest!

No Openings

We currently have no positions available. If you would like to register your interest for future positions, please do so below.

Our Values

Fun

We love what we do and make it fun to be involved. When it comes to fun, we’re bold, creative and don’t take ourselves too seriously (most of the time). We recognise and celebrate our achievements and successes as one family with a big imagination.

Global Citizenship

We nurture personal respect and respect for others, wherever they live. We encourage individuals to think deeply and critically about what is equitable and just, and what will minimise harm to our planet.

Empathy

We encourage curiosity and strive to understand our team members, partners and clients and accept them, treating them as we’d like to be treated – as unique, valuable individuals

Trust

Above all else, we value the truth. The most important thing is to keep our word, never taking advantage of anyone and always telling the truth. We will always pursue openness and honesty, even when it hurts or we have bad news to deliver.

Teamwork

We work together across borders and perceived boundaries to meet the needs of our customers, team members and partners to help everyone win.

Loyalty

On every occasion, we are loyal to our team members, and treat our community like family.

Grit

We embrace all challenges with open arms, persevere over long periods of time, and never lose the passion.

Respect

We treat ourselves and others as people of value; and accept everyone’s differences as strengths to enhance what we do.

Integrity

Honest, equitable and non-discriminatory treatment of program participants, partners and employees.

Enhanced learning

We take initiative, focus on student outcomes through enhancing the learning opportunity. We learn from our mistakes as well as our successes to deliver excellence on a real level.

Thought Leadership

We encourage and empower our people to ask the challenging questions, in search of the deepest answers, in order to tap into talent, experience and passion.

Forward Thinking

We depend on forward thought, and thrive on working with our community to create shared value and lasting impact, to serve the younger generations.

Innovation

The world is changing fast, and young people will need to be agile and willing to adapt to meet tomorrow’s world head on. We’re learning all the time. We listen to others.

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OutBeyond sends out regular news, promotions and information on all of our camp programs, services and holiday camps.

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Information Request Form

To download documentation such as risk management, safety, insurances, accreditations, planning forms, and other material, please complete the request e-form below and we will e-mail the requested documents as soon as possible.